Articulated ramp structure for mine cars



oct. 2l, 1952 J, BINAUT 2,614,755

ARTICULATED RAMP STRUCTURE FOR MINE CARS Filed Oct. Il'?,V 1949 4I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g? E' ff j vll/Ill.

. FICLS. d, M

By 5ft. WMM

Amway Oct. 21, 1952 BlNAU-r ARTICULATED RAMP STRUCTURE FOR MINE CARS Filed 001'.. 17, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Jean nauf q- WMM/'wm YPatented Oct.l 21, 1952 UNITED ARTICULATED RAMP STRUCTURE FOR MINE CARS Jean Binaut, Lewarde (Nord), France,` assigno'r to Houilleres du Bassin du Nord et du Pas de Calais, Douai (Nord), France, a corporation of France Y Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,716 In France November 4, 1948 6 Claims.

, 1 This invention generally relates to an improved articulated structure adapted to be superimposed over a haulage track to provide a ramp or inclined plane and morelspecically to such an i improved articulated ramp structure vadapted for 4use in enabling cars such as mine cars or trucks toaccede to, and departfrom, a tipple or tumbler device arranged on the haulage track.

Wherever it is necessary to bring such cars onto a tipple located on the car-track, the need `arises of providing an inclined plane to allow the cars to climb up to, and run down from the tipple.

In the case of a straight track section, this is no In mine workings wherein the conditions change continually from plate to place,as for instance in the headand `foot-levels of workpanels cut in tortuous seams of the kind encountered in a great many mining fields all over the World, employment of such fixed-curvature ramps will entail the necessity of providing a great many diierent ramps having diierent radii of curvature varying as from 3.50 meters to about 25 meters, for the goat" stowing operations. Also, where a straight ramp is used in connection with a large-radius curve, great dini- `cu1ty is encountered in bringing the cars up to the tipple.

It will of course be understoodthat anything that may be said, throughout-this specification,y about bringing the loaded cars up to the tipple,

lalso applies, mutatis mutandis, to the discharge of the emptied cars from the tipple.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure for the purpose described which obviates the above- [mentioned diiliculties.

Anotherobject is to provide an improved articulated ramp structure to which any desired radius of curvature'may be imparted, in a range of from about 3.50 meters to innity (straight trackV section) according to the particular rei installed.

`duiremen'ts of the location in which it isto'b'e A further object is to provide` such` an'articulated variable-curvature ramp structure, Vadapted to be superimposed .overa `section ofa` haulage track, Ywhich iscomparatively easy and cheap to manufacture and which'lmay be quickly and readily movedl from one tracksection toanother` and there have its curvature readjustedto new local conditions. i i

` Further objects and advantages of theinven'- tion will appear as the description proceeds.

According to this invention, this articulated ramp structure comprises a number of similar units, each forming a deformable parallel linkage system, with means at each point of pivotalconnection, `between the members of said linkage units adapted to t over and engage the rails, so as to provide parallel polygonal contours" oveilying the rails of` the track. Each said linkage unit preferably comprises a pair of paralleliron sections, provided,` at the opposite ends thereof, at which the iron section is pivoted toan adjacent iron section, with a foot-plate, of circular` form, mounted for rotation in its plane within a support adapted to rest on the related rail, the foot-plates of the respective iron sectionsof any. two adjacent units being mounted in af common support. At each point of pivotal connectionbe` tween adjacent units, the supports areinterconnected with a bracing cross-bar, which is Apivoted l to said supports and which is automatically selfadjustable in length in response to the particular value of the radius of curvature whichthe'rainp assembly has to assume at the point under consideration, or the relative degree 'ofv angling between the units at that point.

Preferably, where an articulated ramp struccars enter, or leave, the ramp, areinterconn'ected i with a cross-member automatically self-adjust-v able in length and pivoted at its ends to said ends of the iron sections.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example and not of limitation, one embodiment of an articulated ramp structure according to the invention, as designed for use in connection with a tipple.

Figures 1 and 2 are respective views in side elevation and in-plan of the articulated ramp.

Figures`3, 4, 5A and 6 are respective views in cross-section on lines III-III, IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI of Figure 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4a is a horizontal cross-sectional View of a deformable parallelogram, eachbf Vwhich comprises two proiiledlfside-iron sections c, a;

."wlile,I as'shown' herein"each iron sectionu isin the form oi an angle iron, other suitable shapes be' adopted. [Each `iron section" such as a vend, 'iron sections atjwhich the cars are to "have access tothe ramp i,'e. the right-hand end fin `igs."1'andf 2,` connected with' a depending "iiange'orfs calledifooti-plate bof fiat circular form.` The footp'lates b" may y for instance be,v riveted `to, the bottom horizontal"flange` orweb or" the' angle-irene, as shownat blfsee in v particular Fig'QS) Ea`ch foot-plate such'asb is mountled fer'irestricted' rotation in its4 ownplane, in -rier to ,permitfof' relative angling displacements llbetween',,the adjacentelements a,wi thin a socket or eaingfprovidedby a support generally desig- 'I `Cl Thel'supioltsc as Shown inthe d IaW- fngs, each comprise a flatpla'te c1, supported at a slfiit'able," vertical' level' above'- the 'track by means j offang'edseating mean cj4,' c? (see Yin particular gs and 5),:depend1ngfrom' the iiatplate c1 an adapted totovefvhe rails T'SO 21S/.00511D- the atsurface dat" a requisite height over the rails.` As tothe location of the support c in fthe `r amp,'this support'cj centered upon the rail r thelateral lugs cf (Figsjfl' and 5 res t s `di "f1 ctiyvpupon the rail (Fia-5) or is supported there- 'nbyla horizontalfrib c5" connecting these two e2; c? and projecting inwardly into overlapping relationship withthe foot-plates 'b. y The inwardlydirected edges of the saidfurthenanges 'citare formed witha special congu'ration clearly visible/in Fig. '2) so as to restrict `the relative mounted as to be rotatable in their plane within said support c'. This rotational movement is restricted in amplitude by abutment of the vertical anges of the angles a against the sloping inwardly-directed edges of the at elements c3 of the supports. The said hat elements c3, c3, are so conigurated as to define a lower limit for thel radius of the track-curvature in which the polygonal ramp structure may be inscribed, and this lower limit, in the exemplaryembodiment shown, is somewhat less than about 4 meters. `rIn other words, the ramp structure illustrated by way of example can be used in connection with curved vtrack sections having a radius of curvature not teachericthereogexcepttne free-'end 'of 'angling movements ofthe vironv sections a, iria manner to be presently described.

. lAt the points ofvpivotal connection between tWo'adjacent units of the ramp structure,"`each supportsuch as c is common to both adjacent iron sections a terminating at that point, and

v"less than" about 4" meters.

At the points of pivotal connection between fthe adjacent units of the ramp structure, the 'supportsl c 'of" each of the two interpivoted rows of angle irons are interconnected together through a brace or crossbar d, which at each of its Vends ispivoted through a pivot pin d1 to 'the corresponding support c. In order that said cross-bars should insure proper seating of the 'supportsc upon the rails, so as to impart to the ramp structure as a whole suitable rigidity and stability as well' as `for providing proper vertical valignment of the respective seriesofangleirons a with "respect to the related rails; the vcross-bars d' areso constructed as to be"selfla'djustablef'in length in response to the radiusof curvature as- 4sume'd by the ramp structure vor degree of angling between the adjacent unitsfatthe Vpoint under consideration. To that end,*"`e'ach"cro`swsbar d is composed or" an inner: tubul'ar 'me`1nber d2, on'which are telescopically' slidab'le' ltwo outer tubular parts d3, d3 mounted around the member d2. The outer'tubular parts d3, 'd3 vare 'each formed with'av longitudinallyextending slot d5 adapted to be engaged by a correspondingfpin d4, projecting from the'inner tubular member d2.

vCompression springs'dkhoused withinl the inner tubular member d2 and each havingv an 'inner end thereof abutted against an intermediate web o7, provided within themember d2 so asfto? divide `saidmember into two equal compartmen'tsj 'are eiective atA all times to urge the tubular* parts d3' outwardly and-thus to press rthe pivotsV dl'and 'also the supports c'pivo'ted thereon, against the rails r. Sliding movement ofv the" outer tubular `parts d3 is restricted in amplitude Vby rings'f-clB welded thereto at their inner ends. r"-'Each' ofi the tubular elements 'd3 comprises" at'its "exteriore'nd `(see Fig." 4a) a boss di inthe form `of=a`I sleeve which can pivot aroundthe''hollowspindleddl. The latter is iixed upon 'the support cby ariv'et d10 which connects this support to afhorizontal plate c6. The 'latter is soldered to the" interior lug c4 and is reinforced by avertical'rib clsoldered to said lug c4 'and to the plate c6.

At that end of the structure which'connects with the tipple, i. e. the left-hand end as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each angle iron a carries at its free enda circular foot-plate b, mountedfor rotation in a supportc, smaller in length 'than any of the int,errneoliate'supportsLc naijfwlii'c'ih there are two adjacent angle irons `a"`inteoon nected together. The endsupports c." at" the free ends of the left-hand end angles d' are interconnected by a cross-bar e, which'is of' Xed length and is assembled at its-ends 'to'two'fsupf to a. suitable level to rest upon such wing f1 of the tipple through the intermediary of the lugs e2.

At the opposite or right-hand end of` the ramp structure, at which the cars first engage the ramp to travel up to the tipple, the free ends of the angles a are interconnected by a cross-bar d, self-adjustable in length laccording, tothe curvature of the ramp, as in the case ofthe intermediate cross-bars which interconnect thel supports c at those points of the ramp where` there are two adjacent angles a interpivoted together.` In this instance, however,` the endcross-bar d is not pivoted to any supports, such as c, since no such supports are provided at this end point of the ramp. The boss or sleeve dg,

integral with each of the outer tubular parts d3' of the cross-bar, as previously described,can pivot about the hollow axis d1 forming a pivot (Fig. 6) which is mounted around a rivet d11 connecting the horizontal lugs a1, a1, secured to the respective angles a.

Moreover, at this end-point of the ramp structure, the free ends of the angles a are provided Fig. 7 relating to a case where the ramp is prou vided with a simple curvature, and Fig. 8 to a case where the ramp has a double or opposite curvature therein, the radius of curvature R in each instance being about four metres.

It will be understood that the invention is in no way restricted to the specific embodiment of a ramp structure providing access to a tipple as illustrated in the drawings and described in connection therewith, and that other successful embodiments may be devised within the scope of the invention. Also, the articulated ramp of the invention is not restricted to use in connection with a tipple, but is equally applicable to other and more general cases. as for instance where it is desired to cross-connect two tracks at differ- I ent levels from each other. It is accordingly desired that no restrictions be put on the scope of the invention other than the restrictions resulting from the wording of the ensuing claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ramp structure adapted to be superimposed over a, haulage track section to gain a difference in level therein, which ramp structure comprises a number of parallel linkage units, each unit comprising a pair of parallel side iron sections each adapted to generally overlie a portion of a related rail of said track, supporting means each adapted to seat on one of said rails to support the adjacent ends of a consecutive pair of said iron sections over said rail at a requisite height thereabove and pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of every two iron sections of said linkage units, to allow relative angling displacements between said consecutive iron sections, and bracing means interconnecting opposite ones of said supports.

2. Ramp structure, which comprises two parallel rows of iron sections each adapted to overlie part of a related rail of a haulage track, a circular plate secured to and under each end of 'each iron section, a support seating-ioverajraili at `the junction of everytwo ironsections` orr a i side row thereof to present a flat topV surfaceat a requisite level above said rail, the circular plates at adjacent ends of each two consecutiveiron Vsections bearing on said flatsurface for `rotation thereon, means on said supports foriretainingsaid plates on said supports andrestricting the rotation of said plates, and means interbracing thesupportlocated at the junction of every two iron sections of a side row thereof, with the support located at the junction of two restrictive iron sections of the opposed side row thereof.

3. Ramp structure as in claim 2, wherein said retaining and restraining means comprise arcuate anges secured to edge portions of said flat surface to dei-ine arcs engaging peripheral portions of said circular plates, and `further flanges secured over said arcuate flanges to project inwardly in overlapping relationship over said circular plates, said further flanges being formed at their inwardly directed edges with a configuration adapted to restrict the amount of angular displacement of each plate through abutment of said edges with vertical longitudinal `side portions of the related iron section.

4. Ramp structure as in claim 2, wherein said interbracing means are self-adjusting and comprise an inner member and outer members telescopable over said inner member, said outer members each pivoted at its outer end to one of said supports, and spring means urging each of said outer members outwardly to press said supports against the related rails regardless of the l amount of angling between the adjacent iron sections on said support.

5. In a haulage track section, a pair of rails, a tipple having a frame mounted on said rails, and a ramp structure leading up to said tipple and superimposed over said track, said ramp comprising two parallel rows of iron sections each of the latter adapted to overlie part of a related one of said rails, a circular plate secured to and under each end of each iron section, a support seating on a rail at the junction of every two iron sections of a side row thereof to present a flat top surface at a requisite level thereabove, the circular plates at adjacent ends of each two consecutive iron sections bearing on the fiat surface of a support common thereto for restricted rotation thereon, and the plates at the free end of each of the two end iron sections adjacent the tipple each bearing on the flat surface of a support individual thereto, telescopable bracing means self-adjusting in length interconnecting the support, located at the junction of every two iron sections of a side row thereof, with. the support located at the junction of two respective iron sections of the opposed side row thereof, and a fixed bracing means interconnecting said individual end-supports and secured to said tipple frame.

6. Ramp structure superimposed over a,` hauly age track, which comprises two parallel rows of iron sections each of them adapted to overlie 

